One of the horror genre's "most widely read critics" (Rue Morgue # 68), "an accomplished film journalist" (Comic Buyer's Guide #1535), and the award-winning author of Horror Films of the 1980s (2007), The Rock and Roll Film Encyclopedia (2007) and Horror Films of the 1970s (2002), John Kenneth Muir, presents his blog on film, television and nostalgia, named one of the Top 100 Film Studies Blog on the Net.

Monday, February 04, 2013

Cult-TV Theme Watch: Romans and Rome

Friends,
Romans, countrymen, lend me your eyes, for today I report to you the tales of
Rome and Romans in cult-television history.

The
Roman Empire endured for some five hundred years, from roughly 27 BC to 47 AD, and
came to include a vast swath of Europe and the Mediterranean. At its zenith, the Empire boasted a
population of sixty-million people and stretched as far as England. The
Empire was renowned for its draconian sense of order and discipline, but also
its amazing technological accomplishments.
These include the miracle of aqueducts, construction cranes, and last
but not least…indoor plumbing.

Given
the importance and size of the Roman Empire, historically, perhaps it is no
surprise that so many television series have utilized it as the destination of
choice for intrepid travelers.

Foremost
among these visitors is the traveler known as The Doctor. In Doctor Who’s (1963 – 1989) William
Hartnell era serial, “The Romans,” the Doctor and his companions (Ian, Barbara,
and Vicki) arrive in Rome in 64 AD and become enmeshed with the mad Nero and
his attempt to burn down Rome. In fact,
the Doctor may just have given Nero the idea to start a fire to begin his
grand-plan of re-building the city…

Decades
later, the Tenth Doctor (David Tennant) returned to the Roman Empire with his
companion, Donna Noble (Catherine Tate).
Specifically, he landed in Pompeii on “Volcano Day,” in 79 AD, the day
that Mount Vesuvius was destined to erupt and kill thousands.

In
the contemporary Matt Smith era of Doctor Who, Roman centurions were
also seen in the episode set at Stonehenge (and Underhenge…), “The Pandorica
Opens.”

Another
pop culture franchise, Star Trek (1966 – 1969) took a
strange alternative route to exploring the values and ideas of the Roman
Empire. In the second season episode “Bread
and Circuses,” the Enterprise traveled to a distant world in which Rome never
fell, and which endured well into the 20th century.

This
development meant that gladiatorial games were now televised and Christianity
had not yet fully risen. Slavery was
still a fact of life, but this strange Roman Empire had also managed to avoid
the destruction and death of Earth’s three world wars…

When
Mystery
Science Theater 3000 (1989 – 1999) migrated to the Sci-Fi Channel in
1997, the host segments and skits became serialized. Mike (Mike Nelson), Crow and Servo traveled
through time (from Earth in the time of the Planet of the Apes), all
the way back to the Roman Empire. There,
Pearl Forrester (Mary Jo Pehl) Professor Bobo (Kevin Murphy) and Brian Guy (Bill
Corbett) were held captive for a time in the dungeon of the matron Flavia
(Bridget Jones Nelson) for having pretended to be Gods.

Viewers
have also seen at least two historical dramas/soap-operas concerning Rome. Rome (2005 – 2007) aired on HBO for
two seasons, and was unique for its portrayal of Roman “everymen” Titus Pullo
(Ray Stevenson) and Lucius Vorenus (Kevin McKidd) as well as Senators, consuls
and the like.

Similarly,
Spartacus (2010 – 2013), a Starz original series features story-lines
involving the famous slave uprising in the Roman Republic from 73 – 71 BC.

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About John

award-winning author of 27 books including Horror Films FAQ (2013), Horror Films of the 1990s (2011), Horror Films of the 1980s (2007), TV Year (2007), The Rock and Roll Film Encyclopedia (2007), Mercy in Her Eyes: The Films of Mira Nair (2006),, Best in Show: The Films of Christopher Guest and Company (2004), The Unseen Force: The Films of Sam Raimi (2004), An Askew View: The Films of Kevin Smith (2002), The Encyclopedia of Superheroes on Film & Television (2004), Exploring Space:1999 (1997), An Analytical Guide to TV's Battlestar Galactica (1998), Terror Television (2001), Space:1999 - The Forsaken (2003) and Horror Films of the 1970s (2002).

What the Critics Say...

"...some of the best writing about the genre has been done by John Kenneth Muir. I am particularly grateful to him for the time and attention he's paid to things others have overlooked, under-appreciated and often written off. His is a fan's perspective first, but with a critic's eye to theme and underscore, to influence and pastiche..." - Chris Carter, creator of The X-Files, in the foreword to Horror Films FAQ (October 2013).

"Hands down, John Kenneth Muir is one of the finest critics and writers working today. His deep analysis of contemporary American culture is always illuminating and insightful. John's film writing and criticism is outstanding and a great place to start for any budding writer, but one should also examine his work on comic books, TV, and music. His weighty catalog of books and essays combined with his significant blog production places him at the top of pop culture writers. Johns work is essential in understanding the centrality of culture in modern society." - Professor Bob Batchelor, cultural historian and Executive Director of the James Pedas Communication Center at Thiel College (2014).

"...an independent film scholar, [Muir] explains film studies concepts in a language that is reader-friendly and engaging..." (The Hindu, 2007)"...Muir's genius lies in his giving context to the films..." (Choice, 2007)